I fully believe that Our Righteous, Holy God made a way for that man to hear the Gospel before he died.
Not because of works, but because of faith.
True Faith reflects a man's heart for God.
Consider Rahab...
Hebrews 11:31
By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
James 2:25
Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
and Corneilus...
Acts 10:1-2
(1) There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
(2) A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway...